Christopher Newport tops Maryville

Captains advance to second round, await Salisbury

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The first day of the 2011 NCAA Newport News Volleyball Regional is in the books, capped off with a Christopher Newport (34-4) sweep of Maryville College (26-8) in the final match of the day. CNU advances to the second round on Saturday and will face Salisbury. The Captains won by scores of 25-21, 25-16, 25-22.

In the first set, the Fighting Scots managed to keep CNU close throughout as the Captains were unable to extend their lead by more than four points. After Maryville closed back within two at 21-19, CNU closed on a 6-2 run for the first-set win. Junior Christie Fellows slammed home the winner for her third kill of the set.

The second set was much the same early, as the Captains struggled from the service line and Maryville pulled within two 17-15, but overcame with power hitting in the middle of the floor. Junior Bailey Jensen kicked off an 8-1 run that closed the set and saw CNU take its biggest lead of the night 25-16. Fellows had two big kills in the run and an assisted block for set point.

Maryville again challenged in the third, tying the score on four consecutive points, including on kills by Kristin Findley and Kara Strickland to pull even at 12. A powerful kill by Jensen and a slick move by senior Jessie Heavenrich pulled CNU ahead 14-12, keying a 6-1 Captains' run to take an 18-13 lead. Maryville teetered back within two at 18-16 but Fellows answered with back-to-back kills for some breathing room. The Scots refused to go away, though, as another kill by Strickland pulled the road team within two at 23-21. Heavenrich finished out the match with a kill to advance CNU into the second round.

Fellows led the way for CNU with 11 kills while Jensen hit .438 with nine kills. Heavenrich posted a double-double with 33 assists and 11 digs. Maryville was led by Findley with a match-high 16 kills while adding 10 digs for the Scots.